Gaffes. Published. Especially by those that should know better.If you enjoy the Posts, please Share them on Facebook and Tweet them.The more people who see the blog, the more likely they'll click on the advertisers. And that's vital to keep the site going.To be among the first to see the Posts, you can Like the Facebook Page and follow @MyTypoHumourFeel free to send in any gaffes or typos you'd like me to share.And don't forget...I'm not perfect.You're not perfect.

Pages

Wednesday, 17 July 2013

Meghan's Virgina problem

In the US News and World Report’s 2010 Guide to America’s Best Colleges, Radford University is listed as one of the nation’s 'Top Up-and-Coming Schools'.

In addition, the Princeton Review has included the University on its list of best colleges and universities in the South East four years running.

So Meghan McNeice, a recent Media Studies RU graduate, was disappointed to see that the word Virginia was spelt incorrectly on her degree certificate.

But it wasn't just hers.

According to RU officials, all 1,481 undergraduate and graduate diplomas from late 2012 and early 2013 carried the same error.

And that wasn't the only one.

Chief Communication Officer, Joe Carpenter, said, 'The error was caused when the commercial software system used to produce the diplomas within the university's registrar's office was upgraded in the fall of 2012. That software upgrade required that the diploma narrative be re-keyed into the program. It was during the re-keying process that the typographical errors were introduced into the template.'

How very PR of you, Joe. But the re-keying isn't the issue. The fact that no one read a proof is the important point here.

I've been in and around printing since the 70s so I'm used to finding mistakes in other people's work. It's quite a sensitive subject. Although it can upset some people, others can't thank me enough for sparing their blushes. Some even pay me. And the ones who do get upset are usually only annoyed with themselves.

Spotting gaffes has also become something of a hobby of mine. Not to say a hobby horse. I don't go in search of them on purpose. Honestly. They just seem to shout out at me in passing.

Actually, a second pair of eyes can be very useful when you're publishing stuff. So, if you'd like me to check anything you've written, let me know. Preferably before you publish it.